20200531011809A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Air Tractor AT-802A · AK · May 31, 2020

Date: May 31, 2020 · 16:20 local
Place: AK
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: SXKG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N779DA
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC20CA052
Reported as: Air Tractor AT-802A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 11,000 total2,000 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

N779DARegistered now · Air Tractor AT-802AS/N 802A-0779 · Built 2018 Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-802A Engine modelPratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67FTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Firefighting scoop operation from lake approximately 15 NM east of unalakleet, AK. Accident flight was 12th scoop operation of the day. Pilot executed his approach and landing as he had the previous 11 in the last hour. After landing and scooping, pilot rolled a float to get airborne then established climb attitude. Aircraft stuck top few inches of an approximately 20' hill after takeoff from lake. Aircraft had enough energy to continue flying. Pilot returned for uneventful landing.

As the FAA filed it

FIREFIGHTING SCOOP OPERATION FROM LAKE APPROXIMATELY 15 NM EAST OF UNALAKLEET, AK. ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS 12TH SCOOP OPERATION OF THE DAY. PILOT EXECUTED HIS APPROACH AND LANDING AS HE HAD THE PREVIOUS 11 IN THE LAST HOUR. AFTER LANDING AND SCOOPING, PILOT ROLLED A FLOAT TO GET AIRBORNE THEN ESTABLISHED CLIMB ATTITUDE. AIRCRAFT STUCK TOP FEW INCHES OF AN APPROXIMATELY 20' HILL AFTER TAKEOFF FROM LAKE. AIRCRAFT HAD ENOUGH ENERGY TO CONTINUE FLYING. PILOT RETURNED FOR UNEVENTFUL LANDING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC20CA052Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportUnalakleet, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance during the departure, which resulted in a collision with terrain..Jun 1, 2020 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N779DA · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20210909013069ICliffdell, WAWhile scooping water from the lake for firefighting, the aircraft float struck a submerged stump, damaging the float.Sep 9, 2021 · Minor damage